Short answer: They are not!
They may look the same, smell the same and even taste the same. Some come in pretty gold bottles, others come in tinted glass ones. But don’t judge a bottle by its cover. Read on to learn how to distinguish great, real CBD content oils and tinctures from “snake” oils.
“Every CBD brand has a story,” said Clifton Flack, CEO and founder of CiiTECH, a company that pioneers, partners and collaborates with leading institutions and companies to innovate and market cannabis products. “It’s either someone has used it, was blown away by it and built a company or someone who is organic, vegan or wanted amazing flavor or backed a charity.”
CiiTECH’s high quality brands include non other than The HuGG. All of the company’s brands and products are made from the highest quality hemp and ingredients available in the UK and EU.
Differences in brands
There are some major differences between CBD oil brands:
- Price. That saying “you get what you pay for” definitely applies here. Costs typically vary based on the potency of the oil and the quality of its ingredients.
- Ingredients. Since CBD oil is often used orally, consumers need to know what’s in there. Always purchase a reputable brand that is transparent about its ingredients and where they are sourced from.
- Variety. Because there is a CBD oil for everyone, there is a wide variety to choose from, including different flavors, potencies and product sizes.
- Testing. Buy a brand that willingly undergoes independent third party lab testing on a regular basis and shares the results.
Where is the CBD oil sourced from?
Consumers need to be extremely careful about where their CBD is sourced from. Thе primary ѕоurсе оf mоѕt CBD in Unіtеd Kіngdоm markets is stalks from the аgrісulturаl hеmр рlаnt. Hеmр nаturаllу соntаіnѕ a hіghеr CBD tо tеtrаhуdrосаnnаbіnоl (THC) rаtіо thаn саnnаbіѕ plants, making it easier to be compliant with the United Kingdom’s requirements that CBD oil contain no more than trace amount, less than 0.2 percent, оf THC.
CiiTECH’s brands utilize a full plant CO2 extraction process to pull out undesirable cannabinoids using MCT oil as the carrier. The process leaves behind a range of healthy omega-3 fatty acids, terpenes, vitamins, сhlоrорhуll, amino асіdѕ and other cannabinoids that are beneficial through the “entourage effect,” which boosts health benefits.
Legal considerations
The EU and UK heavily regulate CBD oils – and the rules are about to get tighter beginning in March 2021. That’s when CBD companies must have submitted a novel food authorization application in order to remain on the market. The goal is to better standardize the CBD industry so consumers can be confident in what they are purchasing.
Currently, a CBD oil has to be made from the hemp plant and producers can’t use or sell the flowers or buds. This is often confusing because the 2018 Farm Bill in the United States legalized the production and sale of hemp and its extracts as long as it does not contain more than 0.2 percent THC.
